Article wrapping and sealing means



May 2, 1961 F. A. LYON ET AL 2,982,070

ARTICLE WRAPPING AND SEALING MEANS Filed July 23, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS FLOYD A. LYON THEODORE ARON SON ATTORNEY May 2, 1961 F. A. LYON ETAL 2,982,070

ARTICLE WRAPPING AND SEALING MEANS Filed July 23, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 [75: 2 F15. 2A H5. 26

Fi 4A INVENTORS W 4 By T I I SJSOQE X R NSON W444 @1410,

ATTORNEY y 1961 F. A. LYON ETAL 2,982,070

ARTICLE WRAPPING AND SEALING MEANS Filed July 25, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TORS FLOYD A. LYON BY THEODORE ARONSON ATTORNEY May 2, 1961 F. A. LYON ElAL 2,982,070

ARTICLE WRAPPING AND SEALING MEANS Filed July 23, 1957 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 REF SECO 5 O .225 .75 .675

DEGR EE 0 30 225 270 5/5 HEATER IN DE /4,/s our F OLDERS (LOW) //v G u/ P (Low) 5UCKER( DOWN FRONTUO) our STOP (LOW) IN d=5IDE fz'Y' (LOW)DOWN AIR o/v (VACUUM) OFF INVENTORS FLOYD A- LYON THEODORE ARONSON ATTORNEY ARTICLE WRAPPING AND SEALING MEANS Floyd A. Lyon,ld Wheatley Road, Brookville, N.Y., and Theodore F. Aronson, 60 Crescent Beach Road, Glen Cove ,-N.Y.

Filed July 23, 1957, Ser. No. 673,687

1 Claim. (Cl. 53-206) This invention relates to article wrapping and sealing means and especially to high speed machines of the type adapted to fold and to seal wrapping sheets over an article. p y

In one embodiment the present invention takes the wrapping paper sheet from a stack with a vacuum sucker. The paper is preferably of the type having three or more projections or portions on the front and the sides and is adapted to be wrapped over at least one end of the article. Means are provided to clamp the article in place on a work station, to fold the side portions over the article, then fold the other portions over the side portions and at the same time seal the papers together. The sealing may be heat sealing with a hot iron, pressure sensitive adhesive preferably applied to the papers, or gluing.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved'wrapping and sealing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved wrapping and sealing means of the type having a heated sealing iron.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved Wrapping means of the type adapted to take sheets from a stack and to fold and seal the wrapping on an article.

' Another object of the invention is to provide new and iniprovedsheet feeding means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved wrapping means of the type adapted to take sheets from a stack and to fold and seal the projecting portions of the paper over an article.

7 Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved wrapping means of the type adapted to take papers from a stack and to fold the sides and front portions of the paper overthe article and including means to seal the wrapping paper.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of anembodiment of the invention.

Figures 2, 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating the wrapping operation.

Figures 3 through 9 are illustrative diagrams illustrating the operation and sequence of operations of the invention.

. Figure 10 is a schematic electrical diagram. 7

Figure 11 is a timing cycle diagram for the various cam operations.

Figures 12 and 12A are detail views of the vacuum sticker paper feeder;

Referring generally to Figure 1, the invention comprises a main frame 1 which supports all the necessary apparatus. A platform 2 is provided for holding the article while it is being wrapped. A stack of wrapping paper 3 is held in vertical position on rack 4. A vacuum sucker is 'pivotally mounted with respect to the main frame at the point 6 and is shown in wrapping position. The

vacuum sucker 5 is adapted to separate and remove a paper from stack 3 and to transport it to the wrapping a r 2,982,070 Patented M y 1961 2 position which is shown by the paper made with dotted The article illustrated in the present embodiment is a relatively flat piece such as a pair of mens socks mounted on a cardboard. Figures 2, 2A, 2B show the folding operation. Figure 2 shows the paper which has a front projection F and two side projections S1 and $2. The article is laid over the paper as shown in Figure 2 and is then clamped in place by the two clamps 20 and 21.

The first operation folds over the side portions as shown in Figure 2 and the second operation folds over the front portion and seals the article. Note the triangular shape of the clamp 20 which permits it to be raised after theside portions have been folded so as to allow the front portion to be folded.

After the paper is in position, as shown by the dotted line 7, Figure 1, the article to be wrapped is manually inserted on the platform, the front edge of the article being pushed up against the front stop 10 which is pivotally mounted on arm 11.

Referring also to Figures 3 through 10 and Figure 12, the sequence is as follows:

A pair of clamps operate to clamp the article in place. These are a front triangular shaped clamp 20 which is mounted on rotatable arm 20 and the rear clamp 21 which is mounted on rotatable arm 21'.

The front stop 10 is then removed, a pair of side flap raisers 12 and 1 3 mounted on rotatable arms 12' and 13' rise and raise the side portion of the paper. A pair of front flap lifting members 22 and 23, which are rotatably mounted on arms 12 and 13' also lift the forward portion of the'paper.

N xt, the front clamp 20 is removed and the heater iron 25 which is rotatably mounted on the arm 25' then rotates forwardly over the article and folds down the front portion of the paper. When the iron is in proper position a lower lip 26 on the iron is caught by a fixed stop 27 which causes the iron to pivot on the arm 25 and to apply heat and pressure on the folded paper's thereby sealing them. The papers are pretreated with a thermo setting plastic and are therefore sealed by the application of heat. The rear clamp is then removed and the article is replaced with another article. Alternatively, the papers maybe sealed without heat by gluing or pretreating them with a pressure sensitive adhesive.

More specifically the sequence is as follows.

Sequence The sequence of operations can best be described by discussing the Figures 3 through 9' and also Figure 11 which shows a diagram illustrating the sequence of opera tions.

Figure 3A shows the motion of the sucker 5 carrying one of the papers from the stack '3 to the work position, which is shown by the dotted lines. Figure 3 shows a front view of the sucker 5 holding the paper P in work position. i

'Figures4 and 4A show how the article A is placed over the paper held by the sucker. The rear end of the article resest on the platform 2 and the front edge of the article is pushed against the front guide 10.

Figures 5 and 5A shown the next operation which is the lowering of the front clamp 20 and the rear clamp 21. The front guide is then moved up. At the same time the arm containing the front and side flap raisers raises the front and side portions of the paper at. an angle of approximately 45 as shown in Figures 6 and 6A.

Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 8, the side of .the paper is raised by the finger 71 and the paper is then folded over by the sideward motion of the side folder rocker j r j 2,982,070

arm 72 on arm 14 which first moves the finger 71 to a I vertical position forming a lower crease in the paper. Further side motion of the rocker arm 72 causes the lower portion of that arm to engage the now stopped finger 71 so that the arm 72 pivots about and presses down the side portion of the paper. v

The front stop 10 is now fully raised and the next operation is to fold down the forward portion of the paper; The heater iron 25 now comes forward and folds down the forward portion of the paper as shown in Figure 9. The lip 26 on the lower rear edge of the heater iron then engages the fixed stop 27 when the heater is in proper position causing the heater to pivot around its pivotal mounting and sit down on the paper, Fig. 9, applying heat and pressing the papers together and sealing them due to the fact that they have been treated with a thermosetting plastic.

The side flap raisers are then removed, shortly followed by the front and side folding arm and the forward clamp, completing the cycle and releasing the article.

Timing diagrams Figure 11 shows a diagram illustrating the time cycle of each cam and sequence of operations. In the initial position the sealing heater is out, the side flap folders are out, the clamp pad is in guide position, the sucker is in up or work position, the front stop is in, the front and side folders are out, the clamp is up and the vacuum 1s on.

The first operations during the first 25 are the movements of the clamp pad and the clamp. At the same time the article is clamped, the vacuum is removed. Thereafter, the front stop moves out and simultaneously the front and side flap raisers move up. At about 40 the side folders start to move in until about 80. At this point the clamp pad starts to move out and the heating sealer which has started to move about 55 now applies pressure from approximately 100 to 225.

At 180 the side folders start to move out followed by the front and side folders. At about 235 the operation is completed and the sealing heater releases the article. At about 250 the clamp releases the article. Starting at about 235 thesucker returns to the paper stack, at about 280 the vacuum is turned on, a new paper is picked up and from 325 to 360 the paper is transported to work position.

During this time, the clamp pad returns to guide position. The front stop returns to in position from 315 to 360.

Figure 12 may be used to easily develop the shape of any of the cams on the common cam shaft. For instance, referring to the sealing heater line, if we take an arbitrary reference line we can lay out various radii R R R at the appropriate angles. By plotting them from a common center and drawing a line around the curve formed by the ends of these radii, the shape of the cam may be easily developed.

Mechanisms The apparatus is generally controlled by a series of cams mounted on a single cam shaft 35 which is motor driven. The motor M is preferably actuated for each cycle-by means of a foot pedal switch which energizes a relay. The relay is then held closed for the full cycle by means of a parallel switch which is actuated by a separate cam on the cam shaft.

We will now refer more specifically to the parts-of the apparatus in greater detail.

Paper feeder The vacuum sucker, Figures 12 and 1, comprises a hollow curved member 5 having a series of holes therein.

The sucker is. pivotally mounted at the point 6 and is connected to a source of vacuum by means of the flexible tubing 30 through the valve 31. The valve is also cam 4 controlled by means of the cam follower 32 which rides on the cam 33. The cam 33 is mounted on the cam shaft 35 and is cut to apply vacuum to the sucker 5 during a predetermined portion of the cycle, as previously explained.

The stack of papers 3 are held in vertical position in the rack as shown in Figure 12. The rack comprises a front member 40, leaf spring and a pair of rods 41 and 42 which fit in the corners formed by the center portions and side portions of the paper. The rack also includes a top lip 43, purpose of which is to prevent more than one paper from being removed at a time. As shown in Figure 12, the first paper is separated from the stack since it is attracted by the vacuum exerted through the curved portion of the sucker 5. Once the paper is separated, it is then removed from the stack by rotating the sucker about the point 6. The heel 5' of the sucker is not curved but is straight so that as the first paper is being removed the pressure of the heel is exerted on the leaf spring and remaining papers and keeps them under the upper lip 43 so that they are not disturbed. The upper lip 43 preferably has a wavy comb-like edge to permit the closest spacing to the sheet on the sucker which'assumes a wavy shape when sucked into the slots.

The oscillating sucker assembly is driven by means of the tie rod 45, Figure 1, which is connected to rotatable arm 46 which is pivotally mounted from the shaft 47 attached to the main frame. The arm 46 has attached to it a cam follower 48 which rides on the cam 48' mounted on the main cam shaft. The cam 48' is cut to give the desired cycle of operation.

Article clamping means The clamps comprise a triangular shaped pad member 20 which is mounted on arm 20' which is rotatably mounted on shaft 50 which is rotatably mounted on the main frame and which is actuated by means of the tie rod 51 which is connected to the cam follower arm 52.

The motion is controlled by means of the cam follower 53 which rides on the cam 53' which is mounted on the main cam shaft. Alternatively, the pad member 20 may be the same size as the article and the lower crease may be made against it. In that case it must be removed before the side folding operation.

I rotatably mounted on the sleeve on shaft 50 which is actuated by means of the tie rod 61, cam arm 62, cam follower 63 and cam 63.

The flap raisers The flap raiser means comprises a pair of arms 22' and 23 which are rotatably mounted on the shaft 19. The shaft is activated by tierod 19', cam follower 18 and cam 18 on shaft 35. Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7 each arm contains a vertical finger 70 which comes up under the side edge of the article. A creasing finger 7 1 members 72 and 73.

is pivotally mounted on the arm 70 and is somewhat longer. Therefore, the arm 71 will raise the side portions of the paper when it is raised to folding position. There is a similar assembly mounted on the other side of the article. Projections 22 and 23 on the forward edge of the arms 22' and 23' raise the front flap in similar manner.

The side folding is done by two members 14 and 15 and are mounted on arms 14' and 15 which are adapted to squeeze together like pliers. On the end of the members 14 and 15 are pivotally mounted right angle As the side members 14 and 15 are squeezed together, the pivotally mounted finger 71, Figures 7 and 8, is raised to a vertical position and forms a lower crease in the paper, as the lower portion of the member 72 engages the upper portion of the member 71.

is repeated.

When the motion of the member 71 is stopped in vertical position by the member 70 then the member 72 will rotate about its axis and hold down the side portion of the paper.

' The scissor type arms 14 and are rotatably mounted by means of the shafts 78 and 79 which. are journaled to the fixed bracket 77 and spring loaded in out position. The rotation of the shaft 78 and 79 is accomplished by means of the pins 78' and 79' and 78" and 79". The latter pins are connected to clamps on a rotatable shaft 76 which is actuated by means of arm 81, tie rod 82, cam arm 83, cam follower 84 and cam 85 mounted on the main cam shaft.

The heater iron The heater iron 5 has a curved lower portion and is pivotally mounted on the end of the arm 25 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 90. The heater arm is actuated by means of the controlled arm 91, tie rod 92, earn arm 93, cam follower 94 and cam 95. After the front stop 10 and the front clamp are raised the heater arm rotates down and forwardly foldingover the forward position of the paper; The rear lower lip 26,

engages to stop 27 at the proper position and causes the iron to pivot around its mounting on the arm 25 and to set down on the folded papers thereby pressing and sealing them together. The heat is applied in one embodiment at a temperature of approximately 350 F. for

. about one-half second, which represents approximately half of the whole cycle of the operation. The iron is then removed. The front clamp 21 is then lifted allowing the wrapped article to slide down platform to 2 into a receiving box. The sucker 5 is then actuated to pick up a new paper, a new article is inserted and the cycle Electrical circuit Figure 10 shows the electrical circuit. Each cycle is initiated-by closing the switch 96 which is preferably a foot pedal. This completes a circuit through the control relay 97 which starts the motor M. The motor will turn the cam shaft thereby closing the switch 98 which will then remain closed for the full cycle keeping the circuit completed from the source of voltage99 through the relay coil 97 for the complete cycle, until the switch 98 is again opened when the indented orv fiat position of the cam comes around to theposition of thecam follower of the switch 98.

. The rear clamp The rear clamp 21 is rotatably mounted on arm 21' which is connected to the sleeve 89 on the shaft 90. The

sleeve 89 is actuated by the tie; rod 88 connected to the cam arm 87 which follows the cam 86 on the cam shaft 35.

Many modifications will occur to those desiring to practice the invention, and various mechanical equivalents may be used in place of the particular means in this embodiment Without departing from the scope of the invention. P

Certain subject matter shown in this application relating to the vacuum feeder is being claimed in a divisional application, Serial No. 799,553, filed March 16, 1959, entitled Sheet Feeding Means.

We claim: a

A wrapping machine for placing end wrappers on soft articles having thickness, comprising-a frame, a rack to support a stack of wrapping sheets, said sheets being pretreated with a thermosetting plastic adhesive, an article holding platform, a vacuum sucker rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to feed one of said sheets to a position adjacent the end of said platform, a movably mounted topclamping foot for clamping said article to said platform, side folding means movably mounted on said frame to fold said paper with side pressure against the sides of said article and adapted to fold the sides of said one sheet over said article, said side folding means comprising pivotally mounted lifting fingers and pivotally mounted side moving fingers adapted to straighten said lifting fingers into a vertical direction to form a fold on a sheet at each side of said platform, said side moving fingers then being pivoted around said lifting fingers to continue said fold in said sheet, so that said side flaps overlie said article, and front folding and sealing means comprising a heater iron having a curved front edge swingably mounted to said frame and adapted to fold the front of said sheet and seal it to said sides, whereby when said top clamp is removed the expansion of said soft article enhances the snugness of said wrapping.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fisher et a1. May 4, 1954 

